The pool table has been around since the beginning, even though no one knows the inventor. The earliest recorded records of the game date back as far as the 1500s in Northern Europe. The game was popular among all ages. It has remained immensely popular in the United States throughout many years.
The original game of pool was played on grass, or a board with holes in the middle. The object balls were numbered one through fifteen. The game was similar, except that you pushed the ball and not struck it. In the 1600s, people began using a wooden stick called a "mace" to strike the ball.
The game was improved with the addition of a cuestick, a wooden hoops, and the balls. The game became extremely popular in Europe, and it spread to America. It wasn't until the Industrial Revolution that this game became very popular around the world.
While the history of the game isn't clear, it has been developed by many people. First, King Louis XI from France is credited for inventing indoor billiard tables. It became a popular pastime in England after the Industrial Revolution. The French nobility also enjoyed the game.
The game became very popular in the United States once it was introduced. Many of the first settlers brought the game to the United States, and billiards tournaments were held throughout the country. The game became more popular in better saloons. However, the equipment was costly and prohibitive for lower income people.
The history of the game was complicated further when ivory was used as a ball material. Originally, ivory was made of elephant tusks. Ivory became more popular in the 17th century, but it was not indestructible and tended to crack when struck with excessive force.
Ivory pool balls were replaced by a new ball material in the 1920s. This ball material was made of a mixture nitrocellulose and camphor. It could explode if it was struck with extreme force.
This new ball material was called a composite ball. Although it wasn’t very stable the nitrocellulose offered a cheaper option to ivory. After a while, the stick and hoop were abandoned. The cue tip was also made from leather, which allowed for better ball hitting.
The game developed over time and was popularized in the United States in the late 1800s. John Wesley Hyatt invented a ball using camphor (and nitrocellulose) in the late 1800s. This ball material was unstable, and it could explode if hit with extreme force.
Michael Phelan - a successful pool player - was another significant figure in the evolution of the game. Phelan's father emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1883, and Michael followed him into the pool hall business. His book on pool was published, and he inspired a new generation in pool to get rid of the ivory balls.